The Philomath School Board adopted curriculum for middle school science and high school health during its March 13 meeting.
Prior to the vote, administrators and educators from each school gave short presentations on the learning materials.
Philomath Middle School Principal Steve Bell along with science teachers Sally Mills and Mitch Gross talked about the program structure of Imagine Learning’s Twig Science curriculum.
Mills explained the curriculum phenomena-based approach that requires the development of problem-solving skills and also encompasses the 5E Learning Model — engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate. Gross talked about the curriculum’s guidelines and ideas that allow students to interact with the content regardless of learning style.
In addition to physical materials and hands-on activities, Twig Science also features an online platform that allows students to access any lessons that may have been missed.
“With the idea of looking for something that’s hands-on and engaging and knowing kids — it’s really student-centered and when you look at the materials, we really want to have that,” Bell said.
The curriculum program for seven years came at a cost of $64,683.07.
Philomath High School Principal Mark Henderson and physical education-health teacher Lance Faxon followed with a short presentation that included the playing of a video that highlighted the curriculum’s features.
The current learning materials used for the PE-health classes are more than nine years old, some of which no longer aligns with state standards, Henderson said.
Faxon explained how students will utilize a webtext program as part of the online materials, although textbooks will also be available. Purchasing in a bundle of 35, teacher resources are also included.
Philomath High has two health classes and the approved curriculum will mostly cover the Health I class that is offered freshman year. Faxon said some of the materials will carry over to the Healthy Relationships class for upperclassmen.
The cost of the curriculum was $8,685.60.
Motions to adopt both sets of curriculum passed on 5-0 votes.
